Football: 2017 Westchester/Putnam all-stars

Stepinac's Trill Williams makes an amazing catch while on his back for a Stepinac touchdown against Canisius on Saturday. Frank Becerra Jr./Lohud

2017 Journal News/lohud football all-stars

WESTCHESTER/PUTNAM FIRST TEAM

Offense

QB — Michael Nicosia, Stepinac: The two-year starter finished his varsity career as the school's all-time leader in a single season in career passing yards and touchdowns. After throwing for 2,702 yards and 30 touchdowns en route to CHSFL and state championships as a senior, Nicosia finished with 5,016 yards and 55 touchdowns while throwing just 10 interceptions.

RB — Jared Baron, New Rochelle: In his fourth season on varsity, Baron rushed for 1,006 yards and 13 touchdowns to lead the Huguenots in both categories. The two-time Super 11 pick also finished his career as a three-year starter on a three-time Section 1 Class AA champ.

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Yorktown's Brett Makar (1) looks for some running room in the Burnt Hills defense during the state Class A semifinal at Middletown High School Nov. 17, 2017.(Photo: Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News)

RB — Brett Makar, Yorktown: The Maryland-bound lacrosse star cemented himself in Husker lore as one of the program's best football players ever. He rushed for 2,038 yards and 23 touchdowns to power Yorktown to its first sectional title since 1998 and its first state final in 23 years. He was equally dominant on defense where he had 80 tackles and a team-best nine sacks.

RB — Charlie McPhee, Pleasantville: This two-way star ranked second behind Makar in Section 1 with 1,703 rushing yards and rushed for 18 touchdowns, including the clincher in both the Section 1 final and the Class B state championship game. He also recorded 51 tackles and was the defensive MVP of the state semifinals.

WR — Michael DeGasperis, Iona Prep: After shattering county receiving records as a junior, DeGasperis missed the first three games with an ankle injury. The senior still caught 63 passes for 751 yards, which ranked third in the area. He also caught seven touchdowns.

WR — Alex Thomas, Stepinac: The senior led the area with 964 receiving yards and needed just 39 catches to do it. He averaged 24.7 yards per catch and grabbed seven touchdowns, including an 87-yarder.

OL — Tim Driscoll, Pleasantville: The big senior anchored an offensive line that helped produced 4,639 yards en route to the program's first state championship. He was named Class B's most outstanding defensive lineman and took home postgame awards in all three rounds of the state playoffs. Driscoll finished with 106 combined tackles and 6 1/2 sacks.

OL — Derek Ferraro, Iona Prep: As a 6-foot-6, 285-pound center, Ferraro is one of the area's top offensive line prospects. He helped the Gaels gain 4,030 yards of offense and average 35.1 ppg.

OL — Nick Gargiulo, Somers: The 6-foot-5, 275-pound Yale commit was a two-way force who shared League A-A offensive lineman of the year honors. He helped power the Tuskers to playoff revenge against John Jay and Lourdes. On defense, Gargiulo had 73 combined tackles, including 15 for a loss.

OL — Owen Hull, Rye: The other co-offensive lineman of the year in League A-A was Hull. The senior was one of the leaders of a prolific offense that produced one of the section's top passers, rushers and receivers.

ATH — Shawn Harris, Stepinac: The electric junior led the Catholic state champs in all-purpose yards with 1,466 and touchdowns with 15. He averaged 30.3 yards per kickoff return, 21.7 yards per reception and 8.1 yards per rush.

ATH — Romeo Holden, New Rochelle: The Monmouth commit delivered in all three phases for the Huguenots. He combined for a team-best 15 touchdowns on offense and was a key cog at defensive back and in the return game for the Class AA champ.

ATH — Will Waterhouse, Hackley: The senior needed just eight games to break the school rushing record. Waterhouse had 123 carries for 1,271 yards and 19 touchdowns to establish new rushing marks for the 118-year-old program.

DL — Khairi Manns, New Rochelle: The talented junior earned defensive lineman of the year honors in League AA-South. His play in the Section 1 final also earned him the lineman of the game award as the Huguenots won their third straight Class AA title.

DL — Matt Steigmeier, Yorktown: This two-way starting lineman recorded a team-best 13 1/2 sacks and had a hand in three sacks in the Class A state final. He led all Husker lineman with 77 tackles.

DL — Jack Gilroy, Somers: The senior was a menace on both sides of scrimmage, leading the Tuskers in sacks (6) and tackles for loss (15) at defensive end and receptions (21), receiving yards (345) and receiving touchdowns (8) at tight end.

DL — Noah Glantz, Scarsdale: The senior starred on both sides of the ball for the second straight year. Glantz, a Trinity College commit, recorded 12 1/2 sacks and set a school record with 22 the last two seasons combined.

LB — Kevin Gray, Stepinac: The 6-foot-3, 220-pound junior led the Crusader defense with 122 combined tackles and 60 solo tackles and also had three sacks. He's become a Division I prospect with both Syracuse and Boston College already showing interest.

LB — Jonathan Saddler, New Rochelle: Saddler, a three-year starter at linebacker for the three-time Section 1 champs, also became the full-time starting quarterback as a senior. Despite limited attempts in mostly lopsided games, he threw for 1,097 yards and 17 touchdowns.

LB — Nick Salzarulo, Pleasantville: Salzarulo earned the defensive back of the year in Class B and then won the same award after helping lead the Panthers to their first state title. He recorded six sacks and had a hand in 164 tackles, leading the team for the third straight year.

LB — Antonio Vieira, Somers: The hard-hitting senior led a strong Tusker defense with 98 combined tackles, including 13 for losses. He also had an interception and a forced fumble to help earn co-defensive back of the year honors in Class A. He scored seven touchdowns on offense.

DB — Rob DiNota, Westlake: DiNota was named co-offensive back of the year in Class B, but the senior continued to have a major impact at both quarterback and safety. He returned as a first-team all-state player and only built on his credentials. DiNota rushed for 1,403 yards and 19 scores, which both ranked sixth or better in Section 1.

DB — Malkelm Morrison, Iona Prep: The Army commit ranked second on the Gaels with 64 combined tackles and was first with six interceptions. He also scored five touchdowns and blocked two kicks.

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New Rochelle's Jared Baron, Myles Taylor and Lloyd King during their game against Clarkstown North in New Rochelle, Oct. 21, 2017. (Photo: Mark Vergari/The Journal News)

DB — Myles Taylor, New Rochelle: The hard-hitting safety has blossomed into a Division I recruit and emerged as arguably Section 1's top defensive player as a senior. He was named the defensive back of the year in Class AA and also led the Huguenots in receiving yards (409) and touchdowns (7).

ATH — Brandon Meyreles, Yorktown: The senior safety wasn't afraid to crash the line of scrimmage. He had a hand in 50 tackles and three interceptions to earn co-defensive back of the year in Class A. He also had 1,350 yards of offense and 11 touchdowns, which both ranked second for the state runner-up.

Pleasantville's Jack Howe (18) attempts an extra point during a 28-12 win at Westlake High School in Thornwood Sept. 23, 2017.(Photo: Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News)

Special teams

K — Jack Howe, Pleasantville: In his third season on varsity, Howe saved his best for last. The team's quarterback, safety, kicker and punter had three straight 100-yard rushing games in the state playoffs, including a 150-yard, three-touchdown game that earned him MVP of the Class B state championship game. The junior passed for 1,146 yards and 16 touchdowns, rushed for 749 yards and eight scores and even caught a touchdown. He also hit 37 of 44 extra points, kicked two field goals and averaged 34 yards per punt.

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Pleasantville High School football coach Tony Becerra and his wife Kristen Becerra lead the football team in a parade honoring the team for their state championship win, Dec. 3, 2017. The team won the state class B championship on November 26th, in a 28-14 victory over Chenango Forks at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse.(Photo: Tania Savayan/The Journal News)

Coach of the Year

Tony Becerra, Pleasantville: Becerra led the Panthers to a historic season. They became the first Pleasantville team to win back-to-back Section 1 championships and the first to be crowned state champions since the inception of the state playoffs in 1993. The Panthers, who finished 12-1, beat Westlake in overtime to repeat as Section 1 Class B champions, then capped their year by defeating defending state champ Glens Falls in the state semifinals and last year's runner-up, Chenango Forks, in the state final.

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Iona quarterback Derek Robertson (12) looks for an open receiver against Stepinac during football action at Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains Oct. 28, 2017. Iona won the game 38-34.(Photo: Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News)